MARTY POFFENBERGER

While most of us are familiar with the “dog days” of summer which brings heat, humidity and a longing for the cool crisp relief of fall, we may not understand the agony of “kitten season.”

Volunteers and those involved with cat rescue organizations understand all too well and dread the outcome of the longer summer days when cats go into season and produce numerous litters of kittens which flood shelters and rescue organizations. The summer months also result in fewer adoptions as families are busy with vacations and other events. Add this to the number of cats already being turned in to shelters as strays or because they are no longer wanted, and you have an overwhelming number.

It is not surprising to those who are involved that North Carolina ranks third in the nation in the number of animals killed in shelters annually. Solving this problem will not be easy or happen overnight. Studies show that the most effective solution is efforts for intensive spay/neuter programs to stop the numbers of animals being born.
What can we do locally and how can we handle this problem? Local organizations have been working to tackle the problem through a number of programs, but it will take a unified and consistent effort by all involved, including the public.

The Humane Society of Beaufort County has perhaps the longest-standing program to assist residents of Beaufort County with the cost of spaying and neutering pets. This program began many years ago with funds being raised to help residents that contacted the group for assistance. When the county began the policy to have every animal adopted from the county shelter altered before adoption, the Humane Society stepped up to cover the remainder of the cost of the surgery after adopters paid a deposit towards the procedure. This remains an effective program to make certain animal adopted do not end up adding to the overpopulation problem once adopted from the shelter.
The next program began when the Facebook pages ENC Shelter Dogs and ENC Shelter Cats were started to post animals available for adoption at the local shelter. This social media presence resulted in much better exposure for the animals in the shelter. Adoption rates improved, but even more important, this allowed for rescue by organizations in other areas where there are not as many animals waiting to be adopted. Rescue groups, many of them from other states, pull animals from the local shelter and transport them to areas where they can be placed in good homes. The animals receive all the needed medical care as well as being altered before adoption.

This process takes a great deal of time and energy to transport the animals, in addition to fundraising to cover the associated cost. The end result has been a significant reduction in animals being killed in the county. This is additionally a savings to our county in money spent on animals entering the shelter.
The final, and perhaps most-effective, program where the cat situation in involved is more intensive TNR (trap-neuter-release), as shown by recent studies. There are some local organizations and individuals that have been working on this front. Vouchers are now available locally for low-cost spay/neuter of cats through Paws & Love. This group of dedicated volunteers has also joined forces with others in a cat coalition that sponsors veterinary students for North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine to come to the county twice a year to do surgery on community cats. The cats are altered, vaccinated and returned to colonies where they are fed and monitored for health concerns. The result is fewer kittens showing up as strays in the community. It also cuts down on sick and injured kittens dying during “kitten season.”

Another rescue, FelineOutReach, works with individuals to facilitate spay/neuter while also transporting kittens to other areas for adoption. Other kittens are adopted out locally through Lifequest and the efforts of its volunteers.
There is hope for the future. Just look at Delaware, which has become the first no-kill state. This means that more than 90% of animals leave shelters alive. To accomplish this takes less animals entering shelters and more adoptions. What can we all do to make this happen in our state?
1.Spay, spay, spay, neuter, neuter neuter. Encourage those you know to have their pets done and support the local organizations involved. Donate, volunteer and show support whenever possible.
2.Don’t shop, adopt! When you are considering a new family member, look to your local shelter or rescue group. Mixed-breed dogs are one of a kind and can make the best of pets.
3.Show local officials and the public that you support the effective path to solving the overpopulation problem. Local organizations need our support and appreciation for their hard work. We also owe a thanks to those out-of-state organizations that are helping in our area.
4.Volunteer. All of these efforts depend on volunteers to fundraise, transport, educate, trap, release, feed, contact other rescues, supply food and donate. Every one of us can help in some way to make a difference.

Marty Poffenberger, DVM, is part owner of Pamlico Animal Hospital and president of the Humane Society of Beaufort County.